Thumb tray

ABSTRACT

A tray for holding data sheets, mail and the like in which a bottom portion of the tray has a slot for a thumb to be inserted to press the data sheets against a back wall, leaving the other fingers free to grip a handle to which the tray is attached.

United States Patent Inventor Garry G. Papers R0. Box 297, Denville, NJ. 07834 Appl. No. 879,350 Filed Nov. 24, 1969 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 THUMB TRAY 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 211/50, 135/16 Int. Cl. A4717l00 Field of Search 21 1/50; 135/16, 47

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,683,270 9/1928 Taylor 135/16 X Kober Braun 2/1967 lvandick 12/1968 Guerri FOREIGN PATENTS 7/1935 Germany Primary Examiner-Ni1e C. Byers, Jr. Attorney-Popper, Bain, Bobis & Gilfillan 135/16 135/47 X 211/50X 135/47 X ABSTRACT: A tray for holding data sheets, mail and the like in which a bottom portion of the tray has a slot for a thumb to be inserted to press the data sheets against a back wall, leaving the other fingers free to grip a handle to which the tray is attached.

PATENTED AUG] 0 I97;

FIG.

FIG. 2

INVENTOR GARRY G PAPERS ATTORNEYS THUMB TRAY BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relates generally to trays for holding data sheets available for convenient reference, or mail available for convenient distribution, and it particularly relates to an accessory tray attachable to an umbrella handle whereby insurance debit collectors, postmen can hold respectively debit cards, or mail for convenient reference or distribution.

2. Prior Art When a large number of cards or letters are to be carried, it usually requires one hand to hold them, and the other hand to select them. In the event that inclement weather requires the use of an umbrella, it is difficult to hold the umbrella handle, and also present the cards or letters in a convenient attitude for ready reference or distribution. The insurance debit collector may thus use a kind of portfolio, while the postman delves into a large bag slung over his shoulder.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It has been found that a support tray can be provided for the data or letters to rest upon. But more than this, a thumb slot can be positioned in the floor of the tray so that while the tray is attached to an umbrella handle, the fingers may grip the handle, and the thumb may extend through the slot to hold the data, or letters from falling from the tray or being blown away by the wind.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages may be attained by the device shown by way of il lustration in the drawings in which FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the thumb tray in use, attached to an umbrella handle;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the thumb tray; and

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the thumb tray.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is provided a thumb tray 11, which has three sections: a generally flat bottom portion 12, a generally flat back portion 13, and generally flat front portion 14. The back and front portions l3, 14 are disposed generally perpendicular to and extend upwardly from the bottom portion 12. A handle 15 is attached to the thumb tray 11. By way of illustration, the handle 15 shown is the shaft of an umbrella 10, but it may be a simple stick or any other object that may be easily gripped by the fingers. The handle extends downwardly from the tray 11. Means for attaching the handle 15 is illustrated as a pair of resilient clips 16,16 attached by rivets 17,17 to the back portion. Suitable other means such as bolts and nuts, or screws, may be used In the case of permanent attachment, the handle 15 may be glued or welded to the tray 11.

Immediately adjacent to the handle 15, a transverse slot 18 is cut into the bottom 12; the slot extends at least part of the distance between the front portion 14 and the back portion 13.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tray 11 in use is applied to the shaft 15 of an umbrella 10, to serve as a handle. The fingers grip the shaft or handle 15. The thumb is inserted in the slot I8. The thumb bears on letters, collection sheets, or other data 19 that is to be held for convenient reference or distribution. The letters or data 19 are always held conveniently in place by one digit, the thumb. In case of rain, an umbrella shaft 15 may be substituted as a handle, and the one using the tray Il has protection (the umbrella l0) and can at the same time hold the data 19 with only one hand, leaving the other hand free for other duties pertaining to the data 19, distributing it if it is mail, making collection on it ifa debit route is involved.

The foregoing description IS merely intended to illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The component parts have been shown and described. They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similar function; such substitutes may be known as proper substitutes for the said components and may have actually been known or invented before the present invention.

Iclaim:

I. An umbrella and thumb tray combination comprising,

a. an umbrella,

b. a shaft on the umbrella,

c. a thumb tray mounted on the shaft,

d. a generally flat, elongated bottom on the tray dimensioned to receive a plurality of letters standing on their bottom edges,

e. a generally vertical back on the rear edge of the tray extending upwardly and positioned to support the back of the letters resting on the bottom,

. the bottom of the tray having a slot extending generally radially with respect to the shaft of the umbrella, the slot being dimensioned to receive the thumb of a hand grasping the shaft beneath the bottom of the tray to engage and press at least one letter against the vertical back on the tray. 

1. An umbrella and thumb tray combination comprising, a. an umbrella, b. a shaft on the umbrella, c. a thumb tray mounted on the shaft, d. a generally flat, elongated bottom on the tray dimensioned to receive a plurality of letters standing on their bottom edges, e. a generally vertical back on the rear edge of the tray extending upwardly and positioned to support the back of the letters resting on the bottom, f. the bottom of the tray having a slot extending generally radially with respect to the shaft of the umbrella, the slot being dimensioned to receive the thumb of a hand grasping the shaft beneath the bottom of the tray to engage and press at least one letter against the vertical back on the tray. 